Recap:

The Nationals, who keep their playoff hopes alive, beat up on the Baby Mets . Gio Gonzalez came about as close as a pitcher can to a no-hitter.

The left-hander would up inches away in a one-hitter Monday night and the Washington Nationals hit five home runs, including long balls by their first two batters in a 9-0 rout of the New York Mets.

Gonzalez held the overmatched Mets hitless into the seventh before pinch-hitter Zach Lutz broke up the bid with a soft single. Lutz swung at the first pitch of the inning and sliced a looper that landed on the first base line, taking out a chunk of chalk well behind the bag for New York's lone hit.

After the hit, Gonzalez kept sailing along in a dominant outing. He struck out eight and walked two for his second career shutout and fourth complete game, improving to 5-0 in six starts against the Mets since last year's All-Star break.

Carlos Torres (3-4) gave up four of the homers, tagged for six runs in all over four innings.

Game Notes

It was Gonzalez's second career shutout ... Werth and Moore both had two hits ... In Washington's last visit to Citi Field on June 30, it clubbed the Mets by a 13-2 count ... Lutz worked a walk in the ninth inning ... The Mets placed pitcher Scott Rice and first baseman Ike Davis on the 60-day disabled list prior to the game. They also selected the contract of pitcher Aaron Harang and catcher Juan Centeno from Las Vegas and recalled outfielder Mike Baxter from the Triple-A affiliate.